Depends on what his friend will aim to do - might be a bit expensive to create a mixed set for a beginner. But at least for long irons, I find hybrids great, I use 4/3H instead of 4/3i.
There are certain situations and lies where you're better off with an iron than a hybrid, and mid/short irons are way more versatile than hybrids. For the casual/beginner golfer, you'd get much better playing all hybrid sets, but as your skill improves, you'll want to replace the low hybrids with irons for some shots (into the wind, out of bunkers, when you need more spin, when you need to open club face, punch shots, etc.).
Short irons are more workable than hybrids, but longer hybrids are much easier to hit. The lower the irons/hybrids, then difference start to switch to irons.
Next time, I might replace my 5 iron with a hybrid too... and by the way - I don't use my 3w anymore since distance is more or less the same as my 3h but I am much more consistent with the hybrid.
